It grows well in sandy soil and loves to be in a position of full sun.

Metalasia can be grown from seed; however, seed from the Western Cape responds better to smoke treatment. It's a low maintenance and water-wise shrub that can do with an occasional pruning.

Distribution

Habitat: coastal dunes, stony slopes, among ericas.

Coastal and mountain fynbos regions of Southern Africa.
Widespread in the Western Cape.
Metalasia is also found in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape and Lesotho.

History

The name of the genus Metalasia is derived from 'meta' which can have many meanings, but in this case is intended as 'reverse', and 'lasios' meaning 'woolly', an allusion to the woolly reverse sides of the leaves; 'muricata' means warty with short, sharp points like the shell of the Murex.

Uses

Great for a water wise fynbos garden.
In a garden setting, it can be used as a filler to provide flowering and greyish interest throughout the year.

In Lesotho the dried leaves are used as tea.

In coastal regions, it is planted on dunes to stop erosion.

Ecology

Very hardy and has adapted itself to harsh coastal conditions.

Will attarct birds to your garden.

This is one of the first plant species to reappear after a fire, and offers shelter to less resilient plants when they emerge after being burnt.

It is occasionally used with Marram grass and Chrysanthemoides monilifera to stabilise coastal dunes.[2]

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